东岳失踪案已于今晚9时在“美洲通缉要犯节目”中播出。
多伦多警方寄希望于1000万电视观众能够提供线索。
请看加通社的以下英文详细报道。
Police were hopeful Saturday that a segment on the internationally broadcast TV show America’s Most Wanted could provide new information in the search for nine-year-old Cecilia Zhang.
Police released no new information Saturday on the Grade 4 student’s disappearance but said the TV show would help widen the search.
“One thing we have to keep in mind is that particular show has a far greater reach than most programs that have been carrying the story,” said police spokesman Sgt. Jim Muscat.
“It is important to keep in mind that this is an opportunity that we couldn’t have overlooked. We have to do everything we can to find Cecilia and bring her home.”
America’s Most Wanted, which attracts 10 million viewers, filmed a short segment on Cecilia’s disappearance on Oct. 25 and 28. It was to air after the first commercial break during Saturday night’s broadcast.
In the segment, a visibly emotional Raymond Zhang, Cecilia’s father, sends a message to his missing daughter:
“Cecilia, we are hoping you can watch this show. You know how much we care about you, you know how much we love you. So be strong and we will do our best to get you back soon.”
Sitting by his side, Sherry Xu, Cecilia’s mother, is seen staring sadly at the ground, mumbling soft affirmations of her husband’s message to their only child.
Sgt. Dave Perry, lead investigator on the case, told America’s Most Wanted that police believe several people may have been involved in the child’s abduction and that they likely gained entry to the Zhang home through a kitchen window.
Police have ruled out a random abduction by a predator. Investigators instead consider the case a kidnapping for profit.
“Historically, there have been kidnappings in the Asian community and that’s one of the reasons we are going down that particular avenue right now with the investigation,” Perry said on the show.
Throughout the show, which airs on the Fox network in the U.S. and on four CHUM networks in Canada, a phone number was broadcast for people to call with any information they might have on who had taken the girl, known as a bookworm who enjoys playing the piano.
Muscat said police remain committed to following up each and every lead.
“I believe that there has to be somebody out there who knows something, that can give us a little information that will help us point to her direction, and her whereabouts,” said Muscat.
Saturday’s broadcast was not the first time the show has highlighted a Canadian case.
Among other investigations, the show has profiled the shootings of three Canadian doctors known to perform abortions and the case of 30 women who went missing from the Vancouver area.
Canadian viewers of the show have helped nab American criminals hiding out in Canada, including a serial rapist.
The show was also thought to have played a role in the investigation of the Utah teen Elizabeth Smart’s abduction after she was snatched from her bedroom in June 2002.
